Wide receiver makes quiet contribution

JOHNSTOWN — The most crucial play in the career of Platte Valley wide receiver Andy Milligan is one that all too often goes unnoticed.

Milligan’s lead block sprung senior fullback Mauricio Rosales for a six yard game-winning touchdown over Roosevelt Friday night. The score was arguably the most important in the program’s history, giving the Broncos a 14-11 conference

victory, and more importantly, a shot at the playoffs.

The win improves the Broncos’ record to 4-2 in the 2A Patriot League and 5-3 overall. The Rough Riders fell to 5-2 in the 2A Patriot League and 6-2 overall.

“He’s a heck of a blocker and that’s why he’s out there,” Platte Valley coach Mike DeWall said. “Without his outside blocking, we don’t get some of those runs and that touchdown. And he would probably like to have 30 balls a night, but he’s willing to make sacrifices for the team, and it shows he is willing to do what ever is asked of him.”

While Milligan added a 26-yard touchdown in the first quarter off a pass from senior quarterback Drew Tschacher, a strike that gave the Broncos an early 6-0 lead, it wasn’t as strong a receiving night that Milligan would have liked.

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“My receiving wasn’t there tonight, I had a few drops that I should have caught,” said Milligan, a senior. “But my blocking totally makes up for it. When I am not having a good receiving night I look to my blocking to make it a good night.”

The emotion that the players and the coaches exhibited following the game gave the sense that it was a special moment in their lives.

“This is probably the best that I have felt in a long time,” Milligan said. “And just the chance to make the playoffs — we would making history at our school and that doesn’t happen very often.”

Milligan said that there is no comparison between the feeling from Friday night’s game and any game that he has ever played in the past.

“This is about a million times higher than any game, individually or a team,” Milligan said. “This is just awesome.”